Chapter Three
In the end it was Tsunade who found him. When she realized he couldn't move, she took him none too gently back to her office. Kakashi sat slumped in a chair as Tsunade ranted about how he couldn't even follow orders for an hour. Kakashi was just starting to tune her out when she was suddenly in front of him.
"Just what part of 'stay away' do you not understand?" Tsunade asked.
"Maa you said to stay away from Tenzou and Iruka. I did, Iruka was alone," Kakashi, "All I did was to go warn him about Tenzou."
"Tenz ah Yamato says you did more than that. And given the state I found you in, I'm more inclined to believe him. Until I can figure out what to do with you, I'm placing you under house arrest," Tsunade told him, pointing to her door. "And you shouldn't refer to him by anything other than 'Yamato'. He's still active."
Kakashi didn't respond, just stood up and left. Ignoring everyone, Kakashi walked silently though the building. He had to protect Iruka and now he had only one option left. But everything will be alright because he was going to rescue Iruka. Everything will be fine and Iruka will be safe because Kakashi had a plan. However he needed a little help to get this plan started. Stepping into an empty room, he bit his thumb to summon Pakkun.
"He's gotten to the Hokage," Kakashi fumed to Pakkun once the pug appeared.
"You know boss, no one appointed you the keeper of-" Pakkun stopped at Kakashi's glare.
"I want you to get some unmarked rolled parchment and meet me at home," Kakashi ordered as he jumped out the window.
"Oh this isn't going to turn out well," Pakkun mumbled, but left to do as he was told.
"You drugged me and left me as bait, Yamato!" Iruka shouted as he stormed into the Mission Room.
"I had no choice," Tenzou pleaded, trailing after the irate chuunin. He winced when the door slammed shut and bounced open again.
"You didn't have to drug me!" Iruka yelled over his shoulder as he picked up a pile of scrolls.
"I don't know what to tell you. But please believe me; I did it for your own good." Tenzou walked up to Iruka and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"What do you know about what is good for me?" Iruka demanded.
"I wanted to make sure he would listen to Hokage-sama. He was and still is dangerous, Iruka."
"So your solution is to bait him? I could have helped," Iruka glancing over his shoulder, "I could have done something."
"Iruka, I'm sorry. I didn't think you could-"
"Just leave, Yamato," Iruka demanded as he pulled away from the jounin. Iruka heard a sigh from behind him. Then the click of the door quietly closing. When Iruka had his back to the door, Kakashi stepped from the shadows.
"Iruka."
"I thought I told you to leave!" Iruka yelled, turning around. At the sight of the Copy Nin, he dropped the scrolls in surprise.
"Ah I'm sorry. I thought you were someone else," Iruka stammered in apology.
"I know, but you don't have to worry about him anymore. I'll keep you safe," Kakashi calmly told him.
"What do you mean?" Iruka asked as Kakashi stepped close.
"I mean I'll protect you." And with that declaration Kakashi put his arms around Iruka and made the transportation seal. When the smoke cleared they were in Kakashi's kitchen.
"What are you doing?" Iruka asked backing away from Kakashi.
"This is the safest place for you. First I need you to take off your clothes. Hurry because we don't have a lot of time," Kakashi explained a serious expression on his face.
"You want me to do what?" Iruka repeated, glancing around for an escape.
"Take your clothes off. They can track you with your scent. So we need to erase your trail," Kakashi answered, advancing on Iruka.
"No thanks, I'd rather take my chances with them," Iruka said.
"You don't understand how Tenzou operates," Kakashi said reaching for Iruka's flak jacket.
"Who?" Iruka asked ducking under Kakashi's arm. He didn't make it out of the kitchen. In seconds Kakashi had stripped him out of his uniform. He dumped them on the floor and pulled Iruka though his home to the bathroom.
"Just stay in here and you will be safe," Kakashi said, closing the door and locking it for good measure.
"Safe from what?" he heard Iruka yell as he walked back to his kitchen. Picking up the abandoned uniform, he teleported the bundle to Iruka's apartment.
'And not a moment too soon,' he thought as he heard pounding on the front door. With a glance to the bathroom, Kakashi went to answer the door.
"Kakashi open this door!" he heard Tenzou yell. Kakashi really wished he could ignore the man but it was better to get rid of him quickly so he could secure Iruka. When the door was opened Tenzou attempted to push past Kakashi. But Kakashi stepped into the doorway, blocking Tenzou. From there Kakashi could see Tsunade standing back behind him.
"Where is he?" Tenzou demanded. Kakashi blinked and leaned against the door frame.
"Who?" he asked sounded as bored as he could. Internally he was a little bit panicky.
"You know who," Tenzou ground out, leaning around Kakashi. "Iruka!" Tenzou yelled into the house. "Where are you Iruka!" Kakashi merely raised an eyebrow at Tenzou's actions. After a moment with no response he looked to Tsunade.
"Umino is not here," he said plainly while pushing Tenzou back.
"You were seen taking him," Tenzou said pointedly.
"Oh that, i'm sorry if you had to see that. That was Iruka, he wanted me," Kakashi gleefully started to explain.
"Hokage-sama!" Tenzou cut in. Tsunade sighed in exasperation.
"Kakashi where is he?" she asked bluntly.
"Well maybe he is getting ready for our date, ne Tenzou?" At that Tenzou growled and nearly jumped at the Copy Nin but Tsunade held him back.
"You know the procedure Kakashi. If we can't find him I will be back to search this place. I am placing ANBU around the perimeter. You are not to leave in any way."
Kakashi snapped a two finger salute to her and shut the door in a seething Tenzou's face. As he sensed the two leave, the smirk slowly faded. It was time to get serious. After all he had a day maybe two at the most to get Iruka concealed. And Pakkun wasn't even back yet and there was a lot of preparations needed.
